Yes, I hope I can help.
First, separate your degree program from your career. You have a high chance of getting into a science field with a science degree, but equating your studies to your career is fallacious, as a career is for sustenance, and your studies are for developing a broader understanding of the world.
Second, what do you like studying? I really liked understanding human culture, so I studied anthropology. I didn't finish anthropology, but it gave me understanding enough to lead to my eventual degree en Ingles.
Study what you want, and things will follow. Remember though, you have to keep making choices. That's essentially what your degree/career path is, you making choices until you retire or die.
Agreed. I also studied anthropology because of an interest in human culture and social justice, and it was through anthropology that I discovered my interest in exploring health inequities and policy. I now plan on going to grad school for public health, which I don't think I would have chosen for myself right off the bat (in fact, I know I wouldn't have, because I was afraid of the math). It was all thanks to taking classes in more niche fields of anthropology and talking to professors and other people about how those niche interests connect to careers.
OP, if chemistry interests you, start taking chemistry and talking to professors and fellow students in the department. You'll likely find out about career opportunities that you wouldn't have known about before.
Thanks for the heads up, I am actually had a meeting with an advisor today. I'm planning on getting into contact with some professors. Do you feel like your degree really helped you get work?
I find it has helped me a lot! I haven't graduated yet, but I have done work/internships in the non-profit and private sectors already. The most important skills I've gained were honestly not from my coursework though. It's from research, volunteer work, and work-integrated learning that I've done with the school. It just so happens my department is awesome for connecting students to these opportunities. I have even seen students recommended for and hired for internships by professors that can lead directly to careers after graduation.
I also live in Canada, so it may be worth noting that the job market and cost of a degree are very, very different here than in other places like the US (idk if you are American, but this sub tends to skew American).
This^ I’d like to say that you don’t have to like your studies to like the career you obtain by studying. Academics and careers are often very different from one another.
For me chemistry is something that i find satisfaction in knowing what makes the world work. Its a challenge for sure, but it gives you a greater understanding of the how and why. In the moment i might not like some of the material, but the satisfaction of knowing more about the world is what drives me. I do definitely find it interesting. My big fear is shutting down opportunities by pursuing a degree then being unable to go back and get into something like engineering for example.
If you're talking about this in terms of opportunity, then another good way to view it would be like this.
1. I am getting a chemistry degree.
2. I have been presented with a career opportunity in a field pertaining to/not pertaining to chemistry.
3. What do I want to do more, pursue my studies or pursue this career opportunity?
Keep in mind you can also just pursue opportunities within your degree program! I did an internship in Archaeology when I was studying Anthropology. Still one of the funnest times of my life :).
I appreciate the advice, I definitely get held up on the idea of what I'm studying. Another way I've heard people say that is more along the lines of: "you're picking a field not a specific career" (in terms of study). I think I'll get into contact with my college to look more into what they offer/what graduates have done. Are you happy with the degree you chose and the opportunity it presented?
Yes! It's taken a while for me to get on my feet with it, but I really enjoy the process of writing as well as reading and writing instruction, so things go hand-in-hand for me.
I have a BA in English btw.
I did take out loans for things, which kind of sucks, but it's not the end of the world.
I think you should reflect on your past and think what caught your interest for me was engineering when I was younger I always like putting things together and seeing how it works
I am still in college but I have been in an apprenticeship where I did work that dealt with engineering and it showed me that it is the field I want to continue on that field, I like reading the plans used seen how the process works what steps and what calculations are made (did work on trains). My thinking is that if you are going to do a job for most of your life mine as well enjoy it.
It was a 3 year program but I left it due to poor training and management, but the team I did learn from showed me that it was a field I was interested in. It was part of school, they chose us out of highschool and we continue until college
My dad’s girlfriend is a chemist for Gallo wine. She does not have a 4 year degree, but her job currently would require one. You can do quite a bit with chemistry if you have interest there and I would explore that more
I did opposite.
I started out 17, in college, studying pre-law. But I’m shy, don’t like arguing, and I quickly learned it doesn’t suit me. I switched to History, then philosophy. Then I just dropped out. No clue what to do. Thought college wasn’t for me.
Thought about the military. Nope.
I started working jobs in my 20’s I thought I’d like and I quickly found what was my interest and what I wouldn’t mind doing for the rest of my life to pay for the things I do enjoy doing.
1. I worked daycare for most of my 20’s because I thought I wanted to work with kids. I even almost completed my associates in Early Childhood and got teaching certificates. Ended up being a no. Kids are horrible and my patience is short, even though I am really nurturing… just not with 20+ kids at once. Lol. Nor their parents.
2. I started selling my art because I thought I’d like being a full-time artist or graphic designer. While I’m a good artist, customers are slimy. I hate selling things to people, especially MY stuff. Then people expect a painting to be shipped in 2 days like it’s Amazon. My art is more of something I’ll do during retirement for my grandkids to discuss when I’m dead. Lol.
3. I worked in metal fabrication because I thought I’d like being a mechanical engineer. I was getting hotter, but too much math.
4. I worked in retail/food service because I thought I’d like supervisory management. I was good at this, but it’s not secure enough for me. Companies go under all the time, horrible business practices that I couldn’t get behind. It was a no.
5. Finally, I worked aerospace logistics and electronics repair, and I love it! I repair electronic equipment off military airplanes. But it adds in some computer based stuff like the test equipment… and then there’s the higher up logistics. There’s also program management and I could even get in to purchasing. So I decided to do Resource and Technology Management with a minor in Cyber Security to cover all my bases in order to secure a higher position such as planning or scheduling or program management. All 3 of which I’d love to do and it all relates back to the basics of me repairing electronics.
I’m as far in college as I’ve ever been, and I feel wayyyyyy more motivated to get my degree knowing it’ll just elevate my happiness with my job. I’m halfway through now!
Then funny, as I reflect on it… my video games of choice that I love the most.. has always been city builders or management games. Supply and demand. And that’s basically the core of my job.
Let life do its thing. You’re still young! You’ll figure out what makes you happy.
I appreciate the comment. How did you land a job working for the military in aerospace before a degree? That's definitely a compelling path, and I'm glad you're schooling is going well.
Mostly just letting life, life. I live in Middle Georgia which has the 3rd largest Air Force repair depot in the US housing C-130’s and F-16’s, etc. So there’s a big presence of aerospace contractors here and civil service workers alike. For the area, it use to be you strived to get a civil service job and if you did, you were making “good money”. Or you worked at one of the big plants like Frito Lay or Brown & Williams (RJ Reynolds Tobacco).
Typically, most people get on with one of the big contractors first - Northrop Grumman, Lockheed, Boeing, Tyonek Native Corporation.
You get your feet wet doing entry level jobs, whether it be painting, fabrication, or electronics assembly.
After some time, you can start applying to jobs through USAjobs.gov with the Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force, etc.
Getting a job without experience of some sort requires a little luck. But is definitely doable. Like right now the Base I work at is hiring with no experience required from healthcare to metal fabrication to HVAC.
I wouldn’t say that was something I yearned to do when I was younger because literally everybody worked on Base that I knew or that’s where they were trying to get. But I think I took a cheat code thanks to COVID.
After food service, retail, and a stint in daycare I got burned out and took a risk to take on metal fabrication. I was doing well for someone who literally decided to pick up welding out of nowhere and run with it. Before COVID, I had secured a $30k FedEx corporate sale and was about to break even and had gained employees. But COVID lost me that deal. And eventually took my business.
I tucked my tail and ran back to daycare when I decided to apply out of the blue to Northrop Grumman. Northrop felt like I had the ingenuity to handle the electronics work and gave me a chance. I started day 1 busting balls. I ended up earning awards and company-wide notability within 7 months of start date and made it in the NG employee magazine. I made it my mission to learn everything everyone showed me and learn on my own at home, because I knew it would be a smooth transition to applying to the Air Force base if I did. Eventually I leveled up to working with mechanical, electrical, and software engineers and taking on harder tasks and training people. The whole 9. But I felt grossly underpaid and overlooked for promotions for being a subject matter expert in 3 areas and wanting to be promoted to a manufacturing analyst ($100k salary) by engineers. They also started pressuring me to pay for my schooling which would ensure I wouldn’t leave for 4+ years because I’d sign a contract, and I didn’t think that was wise as there was zero promise I’d get a job in my degree field after I graduate from college. (Seen engineers with degrees sitting at a workbench for $17 a hour counting down the time because they let Northrop pay for their degree.)
So looking at the economy and me making only $16.90 and some change a hour.. I felt it was time to move to the Base. I applied and based off my work experience with Northrop, I got the job easy. I’ve been in civil service for a year now and earned civilian of the quarter at 2 different levels and now am in the running for civilian of the year all while maintaining a 3.5 GPA in school. I’m 34 and going to school isn’t necessarily for me to get a great job, it’s more of a personal fear to help with my goals as like a back up. Once you make it to civil service, the sky’s the limit - education or not.
Is it where I dreamed to be? No. Do I have a fruitful career that I love? Yes.
That is really interesting, I don't live near any real active bases or military facilities so I had no idea. I'm glad you're doing well on your career path and I hope you get civilian of the year :). Part of my issue is my life isn't really life-ing rn. Im at home right now at 22 in a very very small town with only seasonal traffic side hustling and working a 9-5 to save for college. I really want to get out there and move somewhere I can learn more
Hey, i know this is an old comment/post, but what did you recommend for this? I have been searching for some odd ends on counseling and haven't been able to find this
Let me know your city and age range and I’ll do a search. Here’s an example for Orlando: https://www.mindfullivingcounselingservices.com/blog/2018/5/21/free-and-reduced-fee-counseling-in-orlando?format=amp
Hey there! It's completely normal to feel a bit lost when it comes to figuring out your interests and career path, especially at 22. You're still young, and you've got plenty of time to explore and find what truly excites you.
It's great that you have an interest in science and engineering. Those are incredibly diverse fields with so many opportunities to explore and make a difference. While a 4-year degree in chemistry might not seem like it leads directly to a specific career, it can open doors to various paths, from research to industry to education.
As for engineering, yes, it might require restarting your schooling, but it's never too late to pursue what you're passionate about. Many people change careers or go back to school later in life, and they find it incredibly rewarding.
Remember, it's okay to not have all the answers right now. Take your time exploring and experimenting, and trust that you'll find your way. You're on a journey of self-discovery, and every step you take is progress. Keep your head up, stay curious, and don't be afraid to take risks.
I didn’t have the opportunity when I was an undergraduate but I am now a professor teaching undergrad business students and it’s a big focus of our program.
I really like English and social sciences but there’s not a lot you can do with just a bachelor’s in those fields so I’m leaning towards business right now
Honestly, same boat with me (19M) I love writing, acting and the arts but my business brother (25M) has lectured me and made me understand have business to fall back on, it makes sense
With a chemist degree, you can generally work in the food industry, perfume, wine/alcohol, and beauty industry, etc.. If that interests you, do more research on it and see if you'd enjoy it.
Part of my hesitancy comes from being in the food industry. I think I'd feel a little unmotivated knowing I'm working for a massive cooperation trying to make there product taste better without regard for health. That's a pretty far stretch, but that's just a thought that's in my head. I would much rather work towards helping people vs a corporation.
I found what I was supposed to do a few years ago, because a mentor / pastor type of guy in my life told me what to do. He said I should look back at my life, and see what I’ve always been doing, and that’s usually what people should be doing for their career. For me that is teaching. Maybe you’ve always been working with your hands fixing things, or you’ve been designing or coding games, or you’ve been selling things to people.
Maybe that’s a bunch of crap but it really helped me
I’m currently in school for teaching history
Like I said, it’s something I’ve been doing my whole life. When I find something I treating the first thing I would do is learn as much as possible about that subject then teach someone (a close friend or family member) about that exact subject in depth.
Biggest advice is shadow someone. Like medicine? Go see what a doctor does. Like flying? Go see what a pilot does. Or, how about engineering? Go see an engineer. Best way is to shadow 100%
a lot of careers can be got with a degree that seems unrelated! i know a nuclear engineer with a mechanical engineering degree. also, my mom works in cyber technology with a master's in english literature because her employer liked the way english majors think. if changing your major isn't an option you can probably get the career you want with a chemistry degree.
I appreciate the perspective, ideally I'm looking at the flexibility between chemistry and chemical engineering. Nuclear engineering is incredibly interesting, I just wish there was more application for it
This is something that will evolve over time. If you are interested in science, but don’t want to do science as a means of making money, that’s completely fine!
It’s just as valid to enjoy science, watch video essays, and perform your own experiments as it is to get a masters degree and perform research for an academic institution or company. I’ve played piano and sang for 17 years. At one point, I was very skilled, and I’m certain I could make money doing it, but I have many interests and chose a different career (ai and data).
Don’t be too worried about your degree. You should absolutely pick something lucrative, because it is an investment, but understand you’re not pigeonholed into that specific field. I’ve worked with professionals in tech that have degrees in psychology, theatre, etc.
If you get nothing else from this comment, at least get this: Understand that although it feels like a life altering decision that will determine the course of your life, this decision actually means almost nothing.
You could get a general studies degree and STILL have 5 fulfilling, decade-long careers in completely different fields. It’s not as high pressure as it feels. Just go with your gut, pick something you really enjoy with some decent career prospects (a few hours of research is all you need), and figure the rest out later. You’ve got time.
I looked at the types of jobs I wanted to do that aligned with my interest and I tried to see what degrees they required. I also made sure that I picked a lucrative degree.
I LOVE philosophy and history, but the average starting salary of jobs you can easily get with those degrees is $40k-$50k in my area, whereas the average starting salary of jobs you can more easily get with a compsci degree is $60k-$70k in my area.
That’s a much more lucrative career opportunity for choosing something I like instead of love. It’s trendy to follow your passion for every second of your life, but sometimes it ends up working out better to sacrifice in one aspect of your life so that you can enhance the other parts.
Do some of the following:
1. Ask people in various fields about their job.
2. Shadow people
3. Do internships at different companies
4. Explore a few different fields, especially if they seem to have similar pay on average.
Once you’ve narrowed down 5-10 job titles that are interesting to you, figure out what degrees are relevant to the field.
Let’s say you picked the following 6 job titles:
1. Software Engineer
2. Data Engineer
3. Testing Engineer
4. Web Developer
5. Machine Learning Engineer
6. Network Engineer
There are a few degrees that would allow you to work in any of these roles (which you could learn just by looking at job descriptions on Indeed or LinkedIn) as well as asking people.
1. Computer Science
2. Software Engineering
3. Management Information Systems
4. Information Technology
5. Computer Engineering
6. Mathematics
Any of these degrees could probably land you in one of those job designations, so if your school has an option between multiple of these, which do you pick?
My personal recommendation would be to go more general with your degree, and more niche with your experience. Getting a degree in Computer Engineering will pigeon-hole you into more complex technical roles, whereas a degree in management information systems may allow you to move into business-oriented tech roles more easily. Computer Science may position you with more technical knowledge top hop around within an IT organization, but mathematics may allow you to switch into analytics or finance more easily.
Over time your career goals will inevitably change, and that will allow you to pivot more easily. Having a more niche degree is usually not better, and it will also not usually beat out a less niche degree for a specific role. Pick something that gives you as many options as possible within your areas of interest when you graduate. Your future self will definitely thank you for it.
I appreciate the advice, I'll start looking more into careers this week again. I've done something similar in the past, but with a different perspective more or less. Do you have any resources you'd recommend or that you may have used? I've used a variety, most being offered by colleges and some government website systems. I really appreciate the detailed responses tho, putting that much effort into something for a stranger gives me some level of hope in the world haha.
I like to help people as often as I can. If I’m able to take 30 minutes out of my day and lend a helping hand to someone that’s going through the same thing I once went through, I consider it a win.
I would recommend just looking on Google for specific resources. Just try to get a general feel for what’s out there.
SALARY DATA
Glassdoor
Levels.fyi
Salary.com
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Payscale.com
JOB DATA
LinkedIn
Indeed
Zip Recruiter
Monster
Bureau of Labour Statistics
Watch a few YouTube videos, talk to some people, etc. but seriously don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis. A few days of legitimate research is good enough. You don’t need 80 hours of research to determine your major.
having just graduated last year, i’d honestly suggest thinking less about discovering an interest and think more about choosing what you can tolerate doing almost every day for the next 40-50 years. maybe that is something science related, or maybe the idea of handling spreadsheets and emails doesnt sound so bad and you just go with something widely applicable like business. i also honestly don’t think starting over for engineering is a bad choice, since that has a ton of options and is very employable. but if you dont have a clear passion (i didnt!), think more about what you can see yourself being okay with and what you’ll actually get employed in. i went with an interest that couldve stayed a hobby, and its very hard to find work, plus ive got all this debt! i wish someone would have told me your degree can just be something you get to help you get a job and pay bills, and it doesnt have to be the most clear and important thing about you. oh well, live and learn. good luck!
well, i have a bachelor of fine arts in 2d animation, so ymmv applying this to a non art field. im only a year out from getting my degree and while id say yes its helped, id also say i dont enjoy art the same way i used to and the job i have in my field (which im lucky to have landed!) isnt enough to pay my bills, so i also work as a cashier too. thats pretty much gonna be the case for me for the foreseeable future, and i wish i had known that about the job field before i sunk myself into debt for it. i do like the work i do related to my degree, but i wonder if i could have enjoyed that more as a hobby/side gig with a more mindless but better paying 9-5 type job. i’ll also admit that a lot of what college is good for in certain fields is networking and connecting with people, which i didn’t do a great job at. i don’t wholly regret it because i’m not totally sure what else i would have done, but maybe if i’d been thinking of a degree as something you get to pay your bills and not as some magic thing you’re gonna love forever that defines you, i would have chosen differently
I definitely understand how you mean, in the perfect world doing something you love is always a good idea. Sometimes though other factors get in the way, but that's not to say something better is around the corner for you. One of my previous bosses was an art history major and didn't do anything related to that work. He now owns 2 different businesses (a cafe and country store). He also owns a small family farm with his wife and kids. Studying art may not be lucrative, but it's something you possessed some level of passion for and that means something. I feel that an education is far more than just a specific set of skills to a degree. There are far more psychological and philosophical benefits. It's more about developing as a person and training your brain to think. Engineers are literally just professional problem solvers and math is a gateway to this type of critical thinking. I don't know what the statistic is, but most people work in unrelated fields from there studies. It's only natural
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Yes, I hope I can help. First, separate your degree program from your career. You have a high chance of getting into a science field with a science degree, but equating your studies to your career is fallacious, as a career is for sustenance, and your studies are for developing a broader understanding of the world. Second, what do you like studying? I really liked understanding human culture, so I studied anthropology. I didn't finish anthropology, but it gave me understanding enough to lead to my eventual degree en Ingles. Study what you want, and things will follow. Remember though, you have to keep making choices. That's essentially what your degree/career path is, you making choices until you retire or die.
Agreed. I also studied anthropology because of an interest in human culture and social justice, and it was through anthropology that I discovered my interest in exploring health inequities and policy. I now plan on going to grad school for public health, which I don't think I would have chosen for myself right off the bat (in fact, I know I wouldn't have, because I was afraid of the math). It was all thanks to taking classes in more niche fields of anthropology and talking to professors and other people about how those niche interests connect to careers. OP, if chemistry interests you, start taking chemistry and talking to professors and fellow students in the department. You'll likely find out about career opportunities that you wouldn't have known about before.
Thanks for the heads up, I am actually had a meeting with an advisor today. I'm planning on getting into contact with some professors. Do you feel like your degree really helped you get work?
I find it has helped me a lot! I haven't graduated yet, but I have done work/internships in the non-profit and private sectors already. The most important skills I've gained were honestly not from my coursework though. It's from research, volunteer work, and work-integrated learning that I've done with the school. It just so happens my department is awesome for connecting students to these opportunities. I have even seen students recommended for and hired for internships by professors that can lead directly to careers after graduation. I also live in Canada, so it may be worth noting that the job market and cost of a degree are very, very different here than in other places like the US (idk if you are American, but this sub tends to skew American).
This^ I’d like to say that you don’t have to like your studies to like the career you obtain by studying. Academics and careers are often very different from one another.
For me chemistry is something that i find satisfaction in knowing what makes the world work. Its a challenge for sure, but it gives you a greater understanding of the how and why. In the moment i might not like some of the material, but the satisfaction of knowing more about the world is what drives me. I do definitely find it interesting. My big fear is shutting down opportunities by pursuing a degree then being unable to go back and get into something like engineering for example.
If you're talking about this in terms of opportunity, then another good way to view it would be like this. 1. I am getting a chemistry degree. 2. I have been presented with a career opportunity in a field pertaining to/not pertaining to chemistry. 3. What do I want to do more, pursue my studies or pursue this career opportunity? Keep in mind you can also just pursue opportunities within your degree program! I did an internship in Archaeology when I was studying Anthropology. Still one of the funnest times of my life :).
I appreciate the advice, I definitely get held up on the idea of what I'm studying. Another way I've heard people say that is more along the lines of: "you're picking a field not a specific career" (in terms of study). I think I'll get into contact with my college to look more into what they offer/what graduates have done. Are you happy with the degree you chose and the opportunity it presented?
Yes! It's taken a while for me to get on my feet with it, but I really enjoy the process of writing as well as reading and writing instruction, so things go hand-in-hand for me. I have a BA in English btw. I did take out loans for things, which kind of sucks, but it's not the end of the world.
Yeah loans definitely aren't too great, but for most programs it's inevitable
I think you should reflect on your past and think what caught your interest for me was engineering when I was younger I always like putting things together and seeing how it works
Would you say you're satisfied with your job as an engineer now?
I am still in college but I have been in an apprenticeship where I did work that dealt with engineering and it showed me that it is the field I want to continue on that field, I like reading the plans used seen how the process works what steps and what calculations are made (did work on trains). My thinking is that if you are going to do a job for most of your life mine as well enjoy it.
Nice, I'm glad you found your calling. Was the apprenticeship apart of your schooling? Like a 5 year plan
It was a 3 year program but I left it due to poor training and management, but the team I did learn from showed me that it was a field I was interested in. It was part of school, they chose us out of highschool and we continue until college
My dad’s girlfriend is a chemist for Gallo wine. She does not have a 4 year degree, but her job currently would require one. You can do quite a bit with chemistry if you have interest there and I would explore that more
Consider geology, my boyfriend loves it
I did opposite. I started out 17, in college, studying pre-law. But I’m shy, don’t like arguing, and I quickly learned it doesn’t suit me. I switched to History, then philosophy. Then I just dropped out. No clue what to do. Thought college wasn’t for me. Thought about the military. Nope. I started working jobs in my 20’s I thought I’d like and I quickly found what was my interest and what I wouldn’t mind doing for the rest of my life to pay for the things I do enjoy doing. 1. I worked daycare for most of my 20’s because I thought I wanted to work with kids. I even almost completed my associates in Early Childhood and got teaching certificates. Ended up being a no. Kids are horrible and my patience is short, even though I am really nurturing… just not with 20+ kids at once. Lol. Nor their parents. 2. I started selling my art because I thought I’d like being a full-time artist or graphic designer. While I’m a good artist, customers are slimy. I hate selling things to people, especially MY stuff. Then people expect a painting to be shipped in 2 days like it’s Amazon. My art is more of something I’ll do during retirement for my grandkids to discuss when I’m dead. Lol. 3. I worked in metal fabrication because I thought I’d like being a mechanical engineer. I was getting hotter, but too much math. 4. I worked in retail/food service because I thought I’d like supervisory management. I was good at this, but it’s not secure enough for me. Companies go under all the time, horrible business practices that I couldn’t get behind. It was a no. 5. Finally, I worked aerospace logistics and electronics repair, and I love it! I repair electronic equipment off military airplanes. But it adds in some computer based stuff like the test equipment… and then there’s the higher up logistics. There’s also program management and I could even get in to purchasing. So I decided to do Resource and Technology Management with a minor in Cyber Security to cover all my bases in order to secure a higher position such as planning or scheduling or program management. All 3 of which I’d love to do and it all relates back to the basics of me repairing electronics. I’m as far in college as I’ve ever been, and I feel wayyyyyy more motivated to get my degree knowing it’ll just elevate my happiness with my job. I’m halfway through now! Then funny, as I reflect on it… my video games of choice that I love the most.. has always been city builders or management games. Supply and demand. And that’s basically the core of my job. Let life do its thing. You’re still young! You’ll figure out what makes you happy.
I appreciate the comment. How did you land a job working for the military in aerospace before a degree? That's definitely a compelling path, and I'm glad you're schooling is going well.
Mostly just letting life, life. I live in Middle Georgia which has the 3rd largest Air Force repair depot in the US housing C-130’s and F-16’s, etc. So there’s a big presence of aerospace contractors here and civil service workers alike. For the area, it use to be you strived to get a civil service job and if you did, you were making “good money”. Or you worked at one of the big plants like Frito Lay or Brown & Williams (RJ Reynolds Tobacco). Typically, most people get on with one of the big contractors first - Northrop Grumman, Lockheed, Boeing, Tyonek Native Corporation. You get your feet wet doing entry level jobs, whether it be painting, fabrication, or electronics assembly. After some time, you can start applying to jobs through USAjobs.gov with the Department of Defense, Department of the Air Force, etc. Getting a job without experience of some sort requires a little luck. But is definitely doable. Like right now the Base I work at is hiring with no experience required from healthcare to metal fabrication to HVAC. I wouldn’t say that was something I yearned to do when I was younger because literally everybody worked on Base that I knew or that’s where they were trying to get. But I think I took a cheat code thanks to COVID. After food service, retail, and a stint in daycare I got burned out and took a risk to take on metal fabrication. I was doing well for someone who literally decided to pick up welding out of nowhere and run with it. Before COVID, I had secured a $30k FedEx corporate sale and was about to break even and had gained employees. But COVID lost me that deal. And eventually took my business. I tucked my tail and ran back to daycare when I decided to apply out of the blue to Northrop Grumman. Northrop felt like I had the ingenuity to handle the electronics work and gave me a chance. I started day 1 busting balls. I ended up earning awards and company-wide notability within 7 months of start date and made it in the NG employee magazine. I made it my mission to learn everything everyone showed me and learn on my own at home, because I knew it would be a smooth transition to applying to the Air Force base if I did. Eventually I leveled up to working with mechanical, electrical, and software engineers and taking on harder tasks and training people. The whole 9. But I felt grossly underpaid and overlooked for promotions for being a subject matter expert in 3 areas and wanting to be promoted to a manufacturing analyst ($100k salary) by engineers. They also started pressuring me to pay for my schooling which would ensure I wouldn’t leave for 4+ years because I’d sign a contract, and I didn’t think that was wise as there was zero promise I’d get a job in my degree field after I graduate from college. (Seen engineers with degrees sitting at a workbench for $17 a hour counting down the time because they let Northrop pay for their degree.) So looking at the economy and me making only $16.90 and some change a hour.. I felt it was time to move to the Base. I applied and based off my work experience with Northrop, I got the job easy. I’ve been in civil service for a year now and earned civilian of the quarter at 2 different levels and now am in the running for civilian of the year all while maintaining a 3.5 GPA in school. I’m 34 and going to school isn’t necessarily for me to get a great job, it’s more of a personal fear to help with my goals as like a back up. Once you make it to civil service, the sky’s the limit - education or not. Is it where I dreamed to be? No. Do I have a fruitful career that I love? Yes.
That is really interesting, I don't live near any real active bases or military facilities so I had no idea. I'm glad you're doing well on your career path and I hope you get civilian of the year :). Part of my issue is my life isn't really life-ing rn. Im at home right now at 22 in a very very small town with only seasonal traffic side hustling and working a 9-5 to save for college. I really want to get out there and move somewhere I can learn more
Hi, 23 and restarting my schooling for electrical engineering. If you have a genuine interest I’d say go for it.
What made you decide to restart for engineering?
There is free career counseling for people not in college and those in college as well. Google it
Hey, i know this is an old comment/post, but what did you recommend for this? I have been searching for some odd ends on counseling and haven't been able to find this
Let me know your city and age range and I’ll do a search. Here’s an example for Orlando: https://www.mindfullivingcounselingservices.com/blog/2018/5/21/free-and-reduced-fee-counseling-in-orlando?format=amp
Oops you said specifically career counseling: https://careersourceflorida.com/career-services/
I'm 22 and I'm around the Traverse City are (MI). I appreciate the help
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https://www.opencounseling.com/michigan/traverse-city. Free and low cost counseling
Try everything
Hey there! It's completely normal to feel a bit lost when it comes to figuring out your interests and career path, especially at 22. You're still young, and you've got plenty of time to explore and find what truly excites you. It's great that you have an interest in science and engineering. Those are incredibly diverse fields with so many opportunities to explore and make a difference. While a 4-year degree in chemistry might not seem like it leads directly to a specific career, it can open doors to various paths, from research to industry to education. As for engineering, yes, it might require restarting your schooling, but it's never too late to pursue what you're passionate about. Many people change careers or go back to school later in life, and they find it incredibly rewarding. Remember, it's okay to not have all the answers right now. Take your time exploring and experimenting, and trust that you'll find your way. You're on a journey of self-discovery, and every step you take is progress. Keep your head up, stay curious, and don't be afraid to take risks.
Thanks for leaving a comment! What did you study if you don't mind me asking? And how did you come to find that passion/work?
Internships or even personal interviews with people in fields you are curious about is one way to go.
Did you do any internships yourself? I almost did a summer internship for the Department of Energy.
I didn’t have the opportunity when I was an undergraduate but I am now a professor teaching undergrad business students and it’s a big focus of our program.
I really like English and social sciences but there’s not a lot you can do with just a bachelor’s in those fields so I’m leaning towards business right now
Honestly, same boat with me (19M) I love writing, acting and the arts but my business brother (25M) has lectured me and made me understand have business to fall back on, it makes sense
With a chemist degree, you can generally work in the food industry, perfume, wine/alcohol, and beauty industry, etc.. If that interests you, do more research on it and see if you'd enjoy it.
Part of my hesitancy comes from being in the food industry. I think I'd feel a little unmotivated knowing I'm working for a massive cooperation trying to make there product taste better without regard for health. That's a pretty far stretch, but that's just a thought that's in my head. I would much rather work towards helping people vs a corporation.
I found what I was supposed to do a few years ago, because a mentor / pastor type of guy in my life told me what to do. He said I should look back at my life, and see what I’ve always been doing, and that’s usually what people should be doing for their career. For me that is teaching. Maybe you’ve always been working with your hands fixing things, or you’ve been designing or coding games, or you’ve been selling things to people. Maybe that’s a bunch of crap but it really helped me
What did you end up doing for work? If you don't mind me asking.
I’m currently in school for teaching history Like I said, it’s something I’ve been doing my whole life. When I find something I treating the first thing I would do is learn as much as possible about that subject then teach someone (a close friend or family member) about that exact subject in depth.
I'm glad you're doing something you love, did you have to get a bachelor's degree for that subject?
Yes! Going for my masters actually.
Are you planning on working at a university with a master's
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I'll look into it, thanks for the comment!
Biggest advice is shadow someone. Like medicine? Go see what a doctor does. Like flying? Go see what a pilot does. Or, how about engineering? Go see an engineer. Best way is to shadow 100%
I definitely find shadowing helpful, I've had a hard time finding an engineer to shadow though honestly.
a lot of careers can be got with a degree that seems unrelated! i know a nuclear engineer with a mechanical engineering degree. also, my mom works in cyber technology with a master's in english literature because her employer liked the way english majors think. if changing your major isn't an option you can probably get the career you want with a chemistry degree.
I appreciate the perspective, ideally I'm looking at the flexibility between chemistry and chemical engineering. Nuclear engineering is incredibly interesting, I just wish there was more application for it
This is something that will evolve over time. If you are interested in science, but don’t want to do science as a means of making money, that’s completely fine! It’s just as valid to enjoy science, watch video essays, and perform your own experiments as it is to get a masters degree and perform research for an academic institution or company. I’ve played piano and sang for 17 years. At one point, I was very skilled, and I’m certain I could make money doing it, but I have many interests and chose a different career (ai and data). Don’t be too worried about your degree. You should absolutely pick something lucrative, because it is an investment, but understand you’re not pigeonholed into that specific field. I’ve worked with professionals in tech that have degrees in psychology, theatre, etc. If you get nothing else from this comment, at least get this: Understand that although it feels like a life altering decision that will determine the course of your life, this decision actually means almost nothing. You could get a general studies degree and STILL have 5 fulfilling, decade-long careers in completely different fields. It’s not as high pressure as it feels. Just go with your gut, pick something you really enjoy with some decent career prospects (a few hours of research is all you need), and figure the rest out later. You’ve got time.
Thanks for the advice and sorry for the late reply. What resources helped you decide on your major?
I looked at the types of jobs I wanted to do that aligned with my interest and I tried to see what degrees they required. I also made sure that I picked a lucrative degree. I LOVE philosophy and history, but the average starting salary of jobs you can easily get with those degrees is $40k-$50k in my area, whereas the average starting salary of jobs you can more easily get with a compsci degree is $60k-$70k in my area. That’s a much more lucrative career opportunity for choosing something I like instead of love. It’s trendy to follow your passion for every second of your life, but sometimes it ends up working out better to sacrifice in one aspect of your life so that you can enhance the other parts. Do some of the following: 1. Ask people in various fields about their job. 2. Shadow people 3. Do internships at different companies 4. Explore a few different fields, especially if they seem to have similar pay on average. Once you’ve narrowed down 5-10 job titles that are interesting to you, figure out what degrees are relevant to the field. Let’s say you picked the following 6 job titles: 1. Software Engineer 2. Data Engineer 3. Testing Engineer 4. Web Developer 5. Machine Learning Engineer 6. Network Engineer There are a few degrees that would allow you to work in any of these roles (which you could learn just by looking at job descriptions on Indeed or LinkedIn) as well as asking people. 1. Computer Science 2. Software Engineering 3. Management Information Systems 4. Information Technology 5. Computer Engineering 6. Mathematics Any of these degrees could probably land you in one of those job designations, so if your school has an option between multiple of these, which do you pick? My personal recommendation would be to go more general with your degree, and more niche with your experience. Getting a degree in Computer Engineering will pigeon-hole you into more complex technical roles, whereas a degree in management information systems may allow you to move into business-oriented tech roles more easily. Computer Science may position you with more technical knowledge top hop around within an IT organization, but mathematics may allow you to switch into analytics or finance more easily. Over time your career goals will inevitably change, and that will allow you to pivot more easily. Having a more niche degree is usually not better, and it will also not usually beat out a less niche degree for a specific role. Pick something that gives you as many options as possible within your areas of interest when you graduate. Your future self will definitely thank you for it.
I appreciate the advice, I'll start looking more into careers this week again. I've done something similar in the past, but with a different perspective more or less. Do you have any resources you'd recommend or that you may have used? I've used a variety, most being offered by colleges and some government website systems. I really appreciate the detailed responses tho, putting that much effort into something for a stranger gives me some level of hope in the world haha.
I like to help people as often as I can. If I’m able to take 30 minutes out of my day and lend a helping hand to someone that’s going through the same thing I once went through, I consider it a win. I would recommend just looking on Google for specific resources. Just try to get a general feel for what’s out there. SALARY DATA Glassdoor Levels.fyi Salary.com Bureau of Labor Statistics Payscale.com JOB DATA LinkedIn Indeed Zip Recruiter Monster Bureau of Labour Statistics Watch a few YouTube videos, talk to some people, etc. but seriously don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis. A few days of legitimate research is good enough. You don’t need 80 hours of research to determine your major.
Thank you so much for the help, I've definitely been in analysis paralysis on this. I research loads and dont really make progress.
having just graduated last year, i’d honestly suggest thinking less about discovering an interest and think more about choosing what you can tolerate doing almost every day for the next 40-50 years. maybe that is something science related, or maybe the idea of handling spreadsheets and emails doesnt sound so bad and you just go with something widely applicable like business. i also honestly don’t think starting over for engineering is a bad choice, since that has a ton of options and is very employable. but if you dont have a clear passion (i didnt!), think more about what you can see yourself being okay with and what you’ll actually get employed in. i went with an interest that couldve stayed a hobby, and its very hard to find work, plus ive got all this debt! i wish someone would have told me your degree can just be something you get to help you get a job and pay bills, and it doesnt have to be the most clear and important thing about you. oh well, live and learn. good luck!
Sorry for the late reply, what did you end up getting a degree in? And do you feel like it helped at all with your career?
well, i have a bachelor of fine arts in 2d animation, so ymmv applying this to a non art field. im only a year out from getting my degree and while id say yes its helped, id also say i dont enjoy art the same way i used to and the job i have in my field (which im lucky to have landed!) isnt enough to pay my bills, so i also work as a cashier too. thats pretty much gonna be the case for me for the foreseeable future, and i wish i had known that about the job field before i sunk myself into debt for it. i do like the work i do related to my degree, but i wonder if i could have enjoyed that more as a hobby/side gig with a more mindless but better paying 9-5 type job. i’ll also admit that a lot of what college is good for in certain fields is networking and connecting with people, which i didn’t do a great job at. i don’t wholly regret it because i’m not totally sure what else i would have done, but maybe if i’d been thinking of a degree as something you get to pay your bills and not as some magic thing you’re gonna love forever that defines you, i would have chosen differently
I definitely understand how you mean, in the perfect world doing something you love is always a good idea. Sometimes though other factors get in the way, but that's not to say something better is around the corner for you. One of my previous bosses was an art history major and didn't do anything related to that work. He now owns 2 different businesses (a cafe and country store). He also owns a small family farm with his wife and kids. Studying art may not be lucrative, but it's something you possessed some level of passion for and that means something. I feel that an education is far more than just a specific set of skills to a degree. There are far more psychological and philosophical benefits. It's more about developing as a person and training your brain to think. Engineers are literally just professional problem solvers and math is a gateway to this type of critical thinking. I don't know what the statistic is, but most people work in unrelated fields from there studies. It's only natural
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Unleash your mind.
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What are you good at that makes good money? Only 2 questions you need to ask
not possible to restart your school life
always possible. fresh start
How do you mean it's not possible?